Ulrich Eckhard

Ulrich Eckhard is a researcher with expertise in structural biochemistry and enzymology, focusing on proteases and their roles in biological systems. He holds a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Salzburg (2012) and completed postdoctoral research at the University of British Columbia (2012-2016) under Prof. Chris Overall, and later at the Proteolysis Lab, Structural Biology Unit, IBMB-CSIC in Barcelona, Spain, funded by the Beatriu de Pinós COFUND program.

His research integrates structural biology, proteomics, and enzymology to study bacterial collagenases and matrix metalloproteinases. Key techniques include TAILS (Terminal Amine Isotopic Labeling of Substrates) and PICS (Proteomic Identification of protease Cleavage Sites) for protease profiling. He has contributed to understanding collagen degradation mechanisms and proteolytic processing in health and disease, including dental pulp, blood platelets, and skin inflammation.

Ulrich's work spans interdisciplinary collaborations, with publications in top journals like Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Journal of Biological Chemistry, and Nature Methods. His current position in Barcelona focuses on the intersection of protease degradomics and structural biology.